Downvalley

<b>Special to the Enterprise</b>Tamra Converse receives a check from Eagle Valley Community Fund board member Nancy Nottingham from the proceeds of last summer's giant rummage sale in Maloit Park. As we slide into spring and clean out garages, closets and store rooms, please donate any clean, useable items to this year's sale Aug. 17-18 and 24-25. Items, including furniture, sports equipment, house wares, linens, clothing, electronics, etc., may be dropped off anytime at the Maloit Park location. For large items, please call Byron at 476-5701. For more information call 926-0577.

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What do you geek? The Gypsum Public Library believes that no matter who you are, there are things you are passionate about - also known as things you "geek." Maybe you are passionate about composting, scuba diving or photography. Or, maybe you just geek the weather. Whatever you geek, serious or fun, the library supports you.

On Monday, April 8, at 6 p.m., the library will host a "Geek Night" open house to help patrons explore the things they geek. There will be hands-on technology demonstrations and an overview of the library's available digital downloads, including ebooks and e-readers. Attendees are encouraged to visit the on-site photo booth for a chance to share the things they geek the most.

"Geek the Library" is a community-based public awareness campaign developed by OCLC, a national, nonprofit library cooperative. The campaign highlights what people are passionate about and how libraries can support them, in an effort to heighten awareness about the critical funding issues public libraries face.

Call the Gypsum Public Library at 970-524-5080 for more information about Geek Night 2013. This event is free and open to the public.

Calling all fifth- through eighth-graders: Colorado State University Extension and Gypsum Public Library are offering the Babysitter Basics Training Program at the Gypsum Public Library on Mondays, April 1 through May 6.

The classes will run from 4 to 5:30 p.m. and will not meet during Spring Break on Monday, April 15.

Participants will gain knowledge about the responsibilities of being a reliable babysitter and learn about child development. Additionally, the hands-on curriculum will give participants useful activities to do with young children while babysitting.

Cost is $35 for supplies, snacks and a subscription to the monthly "Good Times with Kids" newsletter. Participants must attend all five sessions. Register by contacting CSU Extension at 970-328-8630.

Most Colorado auto insurance companies offer discounts to those who complete the course. There is a $12 fee for AARP members and a $14 fee for non-members for the workbook and handouts payable to the instructor. The class covers how to compensate for changes in vision, hearing and reaction time; how to handle problem situations such as left turns, right of way, freeway traffic, trucks, and blind spots while driving; what to do if confronted by an aggressive driver; how medications may affect driving; how to properly use anti-lock brakes, air bags and safety belts; and how to assess your own and others' driving abilities with a Personal Driving Capability Index.

AARP Driver Safety Classes are sponsored by High Country RSVP and taught by RSVP volunteers. High Country RSVP is a sponsored program of Colorado Mountain College.

To register, call 970-384-8747 or for more information email dspgws@rof.net

All Town of Eagle open space trails will open for the season on Monday, April 15.

The town's trails will remain open until Dec. 15.

Please respect the winter trail closures to protect wintering wildlife and to avoid damage to roads or trails during wet conditions.

• Hailey Vest of Eagle has been named to the Dean's List at the Savannah College of Art and Design for fall quarter 2012. Full-time undergraduate students who earn a grade point average of 3.5 or above for the quarter receive recognition on the Dean's List. Congratulations!

• "Believing the College Dream," a family engagement conference hosted by the Northwest Migrant Education Program and Metropolitan State University, is planned Friday, April 5, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the Gypsum Public Library. The guest speaker will be Ambrosio Rodriguez and all are welcome to come and learn about the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) from Metropolitan State University. The presentation will be in Spanish.

• If the streets around town seem empty next week, the reason why is simple: Spring Break for Eagle County Schools students. The break will run from Saturday, April 13 through Sunday, April 21.

• The Eagle Valley High School Fire and Ice Gala is planned Friday, May 3. The gala was originally slated for March 9 but a postponement was required. The rescheduled event is slated from 6 to 11 p.m. at the Gypsum Creek Gold Clubhouse and will feature cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, dancing and a silent auction. Tickets are $45 for individual or $80 per couple. Tickets are available at the EVHS main office or can be purchased directly from EVHS Foundation representatives. The Fire and Ice Gala will feature more than 100 silent auction items that have been donated for this event. Last year, the money raised by the silent auction went back to the sports, clubs and activities that secured each donation. The total amount raised by this alone was in excess of $15,000.

In an effort to increase seat belt use and save lives on rural Colorado roadways, the Colorado State Patrol and 18 rural law enforcement agencies in 25 counties - including agencies in Eagle County - are mobilizing for a Click It or Ticket seat belt enforcement period, through Sunday, April 7.

The enforcement is combined with a seat belt education campaign targeting male pickup truck drivers, as they have the lowest seat belt use in the state.

In 2012, 60 percent of unbuckled deaths in Colorado were men between the ages of 18-34 while 39 percent of unrestrained fatalities in Colorado occurred in pickup trucks. Drivers of pickup trucks have the lowest overall seat belt use at just 71 percent, compared to 81 percent of seat belt use amongst car drivers.

"Pickup trucks are twice as likely to roll over in a crash, despite the belief that they are safer vehicles," said Darrell Lingk, Director of the Office of Transportation Safety at the Colorado Department of Transportation. "Due to their lower than average seat belt use, we singled out pickup drivers in this year's seat belt education campaign, but we hope that all motorists take away our message: seat belts can save your life."

The seat belt education campaign includes print and radio public service announcements to increase awareness around the importance of seat belt use, especially in rural Colorado, amongst drivers who don't buckle up regardless of where they are going or how long they are on the road.

"Many drivers say that they simply forget to buckle up because they never developed the habit, so it is our hope that our stepped-up enforcement and education will encourage more drivers to practice buckling up," said Colonel Scott Hernandez, Chief of the Colorado State Patrol. "The Colorado State Patrol and all law enforcement in Colorado would rather write a citation than see one more preventable injury or fatality. Always buckle up, as it's your best defense when on a back road or highway."

The Gypsum Cleanup is Saturday, May 11, at the Gypsum Sports Complex on 3295 Cooley Mesa Road.

There will be free dumping for town residents from 8 a.m. to noon. The service is not available to businesses. Proof of residence will be required. Dumpers must bring a utility bill and photo ID.

Residents should be prepared to unload their own vehicles. The town encourages people to bring friends who will help them unload. Trips will be limited to one per address for a large truck and/or trailer.

Refrigerators will be accepted with proof of freon removal. Four tires per household will be accepted. Lawn debris must be bagged or contained.